Former Royal Marine from Stockton will be on the march for Sport Relief 2016

Former Royal Marine Sam Bishop.

Published:07:00Monday 14 March 2016

A former Royal Marine from Stockton is putting his physical fitness to good use by recreating a gruelling test to raise money for Sport Relief 2016.

Sam Bishop, 28, is now an instructor for the Go Commando Bootcamp training programme.

On Saturday he will be carrying out a 22-mile speed march from his home to Paul’s Land Park in Lutterworth Road, Nuneaton, which will include a combination of running and power walking while carrying 32lbs of weight and water.

This will recreate the ‘30 Miler’ he completed on Dartmoor in 2011, which earned him the coveted Green Beret.

Mr Bishop, who was in the Marines for five years and an Army reservist for four years before that, said: “During Sport Relief in the past i’ve been sat at home in front of the TV and watching all the amazing things people are doing to raise money.

“I always thought how I would love to help out.

“I just said to myself, ‘I am going to do something this year’.”

The speed marching method was developed by the Marines in the Second World War as a means by which troops could travel quickly and effectively quickly but also have enough energy left to fight when they reached their destination.

Mr Bishop will be taking a one-hour boot camp session at the park at the end of his march at 9.30am.

The march will have started at 4am.

Mr Bishop said: “All funds raised are going to Sports Relief 2016, but I’m also looking to encourage more people to take part in fitness related activities to encourage a healthy lifestyle.”